m o ^^WWdTagr^ B^lit 



hftly at Valence m Spam. That this is the GaUinuh poliopus of Aldrovand the names 

 lmpofed on it do perfwadeus, though the defcriptions do not in all points asree 



The Bird that I defcribed at Florence was of the bignefs of the Idler Trim a ' Inn 

 bodied, withafmallHead, Wings of a mean fize, afhortTail, Legs bare for a S 

 above theknees, very long Toes except thebackone, which is fhorter inproDorti 

 on than the reft, and fituate higher. The Bill, for the bignefs of the bird isof a vnnJ 

 length, ftreight, narrow, orcompreffed tideways; of a greenim yellow colour- Rnf 

 the upper Mandible both at the bafe and toward the tip is darker coloured and «E 

 were of a dusky green. The Legs and Feet are of a fordid green, neither' is the co 

 lour of the Claws different. In the colour of the feathers it agrees moftwhat with 

 the defcribed, fave that in the middle of the Back between the Wings a black lift runs 

 down befpnnkled with white fpots, of a confiderable length and breadth • to which 

 alfo are two lines adjacent, one on each fide, in the covert-feathers of the Wines 

 not parallel to the middle one, but running out wider toward the Tail. The Eves 

 are fmall, and their hides of a greeniih yellow. In the bird that Mr. WiUwhbv mea- 

 sured the length from Bill to Claws was thirteen inches, from Bill to Tail nine and an 

 half: The breadth between the tips of the Wings fixteen. The Bill, like that of the 

 common Water-hen, from the point to the angles of the mouth fcarce an inch lone ■ 

 The Tail two inches. Along theutmoft edge of the Wing from the Shoulders to the 

 very tip of the outmoft pinion feather runs a line of white, as in the common Water- 

 ken. This line of white was not in the Bird we defcribed at Florence ; Yet I perfwade 

 my felf that both thefe defcriptions are of one and the fame Species of bird differing 

 either in Age or Sex. 3 6 



§. VII. 



* The Water-hen called by Gefner Ochxo^us : Schmirring, Aldrov. lib. 20. cap. 42. 



SO he denominates it from the pale yellow or Brimftone-like colour of its Legs 

 ( which appears alfo in its Bill to the middle part or further, for the forepart of it 

 is black.; It is called in High Dutch Schmirring, a name ( as I guefs) framed in imita- 

 "iirifliGif- u°j °y^ vo , lce or *? noifeit makes. It hath the greateft variety of colours of anv 

 »«• had feeii- bird ot tnls kmd 3 there appearing in itfeven diftinft ones (as the * Piclure fhews.') 

 th h- h h A \ f p m F ° r befides the y el low colour I fpake of, everv where all over the whole body appears 

 Sewasta^ a ruflet [ r«rf» .- ] In the ends of the fhorteft feathers of the Wings a red, like red 

 ken,wefliould Oker : A white both on the Head and about the Eyes, and alfo in the middle feathers 

 bcSr'and ° f the WingS ' and in the Bell y* The lon g eft feat hers of the Wings are black, and 

 truer defcri- elfewhere in the Back, Tail, Neck, and Wings are fpots of black. The edges of the 

 prion of it, Eye-lids are tinftured with a Saffron-colour. There is alfo fomething of brown and 

 cinereous in the Wings. The Feet want the back-toe, unlefs the Piclure deceives 

 me. It builds among fhrubs with mofs and grafs. Thus far Gefner. This Bird ( if it 

 be rightly defcribed, of which we are very doubtful ) we have not yet feen. 



§. VIII. 



■ , • * The Wyn-kernel or Gallinula ochra of Gefner, Aldrov.l\b.2Q. cap.48. 



I( faith Gefner ) named this Ochra, from the greeniih, but fordid and dark colour of 

 almoft the whole body, more du,sky on the upper fide. The Head, Neck, Breafr, 

 and Wings are adorned with points and fpots of white. The Tail is in part white. 

 The Bill partly purple, partly black. The Legs pale yellow. 



§. IX. 



. * The Land-hen; Gallinula terreftris of Aldrovand. Perchance the Land-Rail. 



WE fufpecf this Bird (however Gefner contradicts it ) to be the Land-Rail or 

 Ortygometra of Bellonim, however the Toes in the figure are drawn too too 

 long. But that the Reader may fatisfie himfelf whether or no we judge aright, we 

 lhall here put down Gefner s defcription of it. 



In the whole habit and fafhion of its body it is very like the Water-fowl, if you 

 except only the Bill. Gefner having no Gree\ or Latine name for it, it may, faith he, 



be 



